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Long-term effects of clearing Helicobacter pylori on growth in school-age children
Robertino M Mera1, Luis E Bravo, Karen J Goodman
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. rmm17189@gmail.com
Insights
Treating Helicobacter pylori infection in children significantly improves long-term growth. Children who cleared the infection showed faster height and weight gain compared to those who remained infected.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection negatively impacts child growth velocity.
- Long-term effects of H. pylori infection on children's height and weight are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term impact of H. pylori infection and its treatment on the growth of school-aged children.
Main Methods:
- Followed two cohorts of 295 school-aged children (treated vs. untreated) for 3.7 years.
- Monitored anthropometry every 3 months and H. pylori status every 6 months via urea breath test.
- Analyzed height and weight using growth models, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- No significant baseline differences in height or weight between H. pylori positive and negative children.
- Clearing H. pylori infection showed a significant positive impact on height and weight over time.
- Children who cleared the infection or remained negative grew significantly faster than persistently infected children.
Conclusions:
- School-aged children's growth significantly benefits from H. pylori infection treatment.
- Prompt treatment of H. pylori infection is recommended to support optimal child development.
Background:
A new Helicobacter pylori infection affects growth velocity negatively, and clearing the infection produces a small significant rebound, but it is not known whether height and weight in children are impacted over the long term.
Methods:
We investigated 295 school-age children followed in 2 cohorts, treated (150) and untreated (145), from 2004 for 3.7 years with 1105 child-years of observation. Follow-up intervals were 3 months for anthropometry measurements and 6 months for H. pylori status ascertained by urea breath test. Height in centimeters and weight in kilograms were analyzed using growth models.
Results:
A multivariate mixed model that adjusted for age, sex, father's education, and number of siblings found no significant differences in height or weight at baseline by H. pylori status. The same model showed a significant impact of clearing H. pylori across time, with increasing significant differences in average height and weight as the follow-up progressed.
Conclusions:
Children who were always negative or who cleared the infection grew significantly faster than those who stayed positive after adjusting for other covariates. This study suggests that school-age children's growth benefits from being treated for H. pylori infection.
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